Former Grosvenor Cinema, Rayners Lane
Yesterday was the first day of Open House weekend – a weekend every year where the most beautiful private buildings are opened to the public for free – so naturally I was out and about with my camera. The first place I visited was the Former Grosvenor Cinema in Rayners Lane (now the Zoroastrian Centre). It has a pretty sad history; the building has been badly abused over the years, but it still has a lot of its original Art Deco character. Below are a few shots of both the interior and the facade.
Close up on the Art Deco facade.
Art Deco curve.
Art Deco detail in the auditorium.
Art Deco ceiling, restored.
Art Deco ceiling, restored and lighted.
Foyer, Art Deco ceiling.
Queens Cinema, Westbourne Park London.
Today I walked a part of London I rarely do – Westbourne Park – and stumbled across this old Art Deco cinema. I had brought my camera for just such an occasion. Five years ago it was a TGI Friday and before that an ABC Cinema (the cinema closed in 1988 and the last film it showed was Coming to America). The ABC cinema put an enormous blue grill on the front and although this was a less than attractive look it means this beautiful facade is better preserved.
More information on this building can be found at Cinema Treasures.
Queens cinema lettering.
- Pleated Art Deco Column.
Stained glass windows.
- Art Deco lettering close up.
The Gaumont State Cinema on Kilburn High Road opened 75 years ago. Inspired by the Empire State Building in New York, the bold lines of its tower still dominate Kilburn High Road today. It didn’t survive as a cinema, sadly, but its flaking Art Deco style is still worth a look. I photographed the exterior today and about a year ago I was lucky enough to get a tour of the interior. As you can see from the photos below the interior is just as lavish as its exterior suggests and it boasts a Wurlitzer Organ.
